Bridal Babes is an internet bridal and bridesmaid boutique that caters to ladies of all colours and sizes. They promote trendy, form-fitting attire that allow ladies showcase their curves and pores and skin tone. Founders Charles and Ashley Young pitched their enterprise on season 14 of Shark Tank. As of 2024, Bridal Babes is price an estimated $3 million.
About the Founders
Charles and Ashley Young are a married couple residing in Washington, DC. Not a lot is thought concerning the husband’s background, however Ashley has a advertising and marketing diploma from the University of Virginia.
After faculty, she grew to become a advertising and marketing knowledgeable, spending over a decade of her life managing half a billion {dollars} for a public training marketing campaign. Previously Ashley lived in New York City and labored for Universal McCann and Porter Novelli. She later labored for the FDA as a well being communications specialist for 9 years.
Founding the Company
When Charles and Ashley’s wedding ceremony day was close to, the bride known as her bridesmaids to ask what sort of gown they’d like to put on. Because they had been of various colours and shapes, they needed to put on one thing to emphasize their distinctive magnificence.
They checked out many bridal outlets to discover form-fitting attire in putting hues however discovered none. This helped Ashley understand there was a niche within the bridal marketplace for ladies of colour and people with distinctive figures. A niche to be stuffed within the $61.9 billion US wedding ceremony business.
Ashley and her hubby launched Bridal Babes in 2019 with their very own financial savings. Charles give up his day job to work full-time on the enterprise. As president and COO, he principally manages the logistics and operations. The model’s digital consultancy providers and on-line showcases helped it stand out. By 2021, they had been on monitor to make $1 million in gross sales.
Getting on Shark Tank
Charles and Ashley’s enterprise grew to become one of the crucial profitable black and women-owned companies of their space. Because of this, they had been invited to be a part of the 2021 Black Girl Magic Pitch Competition.
The occasion was funded by Capital One Business and Boss Women Media, who picked three out of 5,000 members to obtain the highest awards. Ashley received second place and was awarded a $15,000 grant. However, the Youngs wanted extra capital to develop the enterprise and efficiently received chosen to seem in episode 5 of season 14.
After Shark Tank
Despite their episode solely airing, the enterprise is anticipating to see an enormous uplight in gross sales over the approaching weeks. The enterprise suffered throughout the early phases of the pandemic however had its first worthwhile yr in 2020.
If you or somebody you realize is trying to get married, you will get in contact with Bridal Babes straight on their official web site, BridalBabes.co. Apart from attire, additionally they promote robes and merch.
Their bridal assortment has a 3.7-star ranking on TheKnot.com from three evaluations. The firm is prospering, its annual income is over $1 million, and the corporate is price an estimated $3 million.
